Table Of Contents

Introduction

Orchard House B&B - Where friends become family

A warm and friendly welcome awaits you at the Orchard House Bed and Breakfast in Lovingston, Virginia - Central Virginia's Nelson County. The Orchard House is a beautiful Victorian farmhouse built in 1874. It was one of the area's premier apple orchards in its day.

Revisit your youth and unwind from the stresses of life relaxing in a rocking chair or porch swing. Take a romantic stroll around our picturesque 14-acres or doze off in a hammock. In season, enjoy a dip in the pool.

Nestled in the core of the Virginia countryside, we are surrounded by the breath-taking Blue Ridge Mountains, yet only a short drive away from the arts and entertainment of downtown Charlottesville, Waynesboro, Staunton, Lynchburg as well as the Blue Ridge Parkway. Enjoy wine tasting and touring of the many Wineries, Vineyards and Breweries of Central Virginia. Also, visit the nearby orchards, skiing at Wintergreen Resort, hiking at Crabtree Falls, fishing on the James River, antiquing, country drives, golfing or dining out.

Are you a history buff? We have Monticello, Montpelier, Walton's Mountain, Jefferson National Forest, Appomattox Court House, Poplar Forest, Ashlawn and more. We specialize in educational Chauffeured Virginia Wine Tours unlike anyone else, to local wineries for guests staying at the Orchard House Bed and Breakfast. Regardless of what you do at the Orchard House Bed and Breakfast, you are sure to enjoy good food, experience great hospitality and ensure lasting memories. This is the B&B experience you dreamed of!

Your Hosts

We are your hosts, Deb and Richard Bulissa. We met at a wedding of a mutual friend in Vermont and not only fell in love with each other, but we also fell in love with the country lifestyle Vermont had to offer. We married two years later and spent the next eleven years trying to find a way to move to there from our home in Connecticut. Finally, in 1987 that's just what we did, along with our software business and our two daughters, aged 7 and 9 by that time.

We found we were always having company since we lived in a large house, and after all, who doesn't want to visit Vermont. Thus began our dream of a bed & breakfast. For the next several years we researched the business and looked all over New England to purchase one. As the years passed, it seemed as if our goal might not be reached. The girls grew up, married and left Vermont. They both attended college in Arkansas, which took us through Virginia many times over the years. It reminded us of Vermont with all the green mountains, rolling hills and abundant farmland, and we found ourselves being drawn to it. And there was one benefit Virginia had over Vermont... shorter and less harsh winters which had begun to wear on us.

In July of 2004, we stumbled on a beautiful Victorian farmhouse in Lovingston, VA. The moment we saw it, we knew that our dream was about to become a reality. So, we are now inviting you to share in our enthusiasm when you visit the Orchard House Bed & Breakfast or our newly opened Apple Blossom Farm House. We look forward to making your visit a comfortable and memorable one.

Amenities & Policies

Regardless of what you do at the Orchard House Bed and Breakfast, you are sure to enjoy good food, experience great hospitality and ensure lasting memories. This is the B&B experience you dreamed of!

All of our comfortable rooms have queen beds with pillow top mattresses covered with soft linens and luxurious down comforters or cozy quilts and private bathrooms. As you will notice, we've "picked" names of apple varieties that best reflect the rooms' unique personalities.

Policies

Food, drink, and smoking are strictly prohibited in pool area. Smoking is not permitted inside the house. Our guests may smoke on the porch or on the grounds, but please be considerate of non-smoking guests. Please distinguish butts in containers provided.

Area Information

Lovingston and the surrounding areas of Nelson County boast some of the most beautiful places in Virginia and for that matter, the Atlantic Coast. Here is a list of just a few things you can do while visiting the Orchard House Bed and Breakfast:

Area Wineries, Breweries and Orchards

Afton Mountain Vineyard

Cardinal Point Winery

DelFosse Vineyard &Winery

Democracy Vineyards

Hill Top Berry Farm &Winery

Flying Fox Vineyard

Lazy Days Winery

Lovingston Winery

Mountain Cove Winery

Veritas Vineyard and Winery

Wintergreen Winery

Rebec Vineyards

Pollak Vineyards

Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyard

Blue Mountain Brewery

Barrel House

Devils Backbone Brewery

Wild Wolf Brewery

Albemarle CiderWorks

Bold Rock Hard Cider

Dickie Brothers Orchards

Seaman and Silver Creek Orchards

Saunders Brothers Orchards

Outdoor Activities

Hiking, Biking, Scenic Drives:

Blue Ridge Parkways

Crabtree Falls

Hiking in Nelson County

Biking in Nelson County

Motorcycling in Nelson County

Shenandoah National Park

George Washington National Forest

Horseback, Fishing, Canoeing:

Horseback Riding

Sherando Lake

Fly Fishing in Virginia

James River Runners, Inc

James River Float Company

Orchard House Kayak Rentals

Skiing and Golfing:

Wintergreen Resort

Devil's Knob (at Wintergreen)

Stony Creek (at Wintergreen)

Central Virginia Golf Courses

Culture, Arts and Entertainment

Historic Homes, Museums:

Monticello - Home of Thomas Jefferson

Montpelier - Home of James Madison

Ash Lawn Highland - Home of James Monroe

The Walton's Museum

Local Farm/Pottery

Nan Rothwell Pottery

Kevin Crowe Pottery

Inglewood Lavender

Theatres & Festivals

ER Blue Ridge Summer Theatre

John Paul Jones Arena

Shakespeare

Paramount Theatre

Live Arts Theatre

Tuesday Evening Concert Series

Ashlawn Opera Festival

The Earl Hamner Theater

Virginia Wine & Garlic Festival

Local Information

Nelson County Visitors Bureau

Visit Charlottesville

Virginia is for Lovers

University of Virginia

Directions

Located in Lovingston, Virginia the Orchard House B&B is about 30 miles south of Charlottesville, 30 miles north of Lynchburg, approximately 150 miles from Washington, D.C., 135 miles from Williamsburg, and 95 miles from Richmond.

The Apple Blossom Farm House is located off the same driveway to the Orchard House Bed and Breakfast in Lovingston, Virginia. It is the yellow house at the bottom of the drive just to the left of the red barn. Following these directions to the Orchard House will get you here.

Directions to Orchard House B&B From Washington, D.C.

Take Interstate 66 West to Route 29 South at Gainesville Exit 43A. Follow Route 29 South through Culpeper to Charlottesville. In Charlottesville take the right hand ramp onto 250 West/29 South just past the Best Buys store. Stay on 29 South for 28 miles to Lovingston. The Orchard House B&B is on the right 6.2 miles from the intersection of Route 6 West and just 0.4 mile past Route 718 "Mountain Cove Rd" on the right (Note sign to Mountain Cove Vineyard). When you get to 718 slow down below 30 as our driveway is on the right as you round the right curve on Route 29. If you come to a traffic light with McDonalds on the right you went about 0.8 mile past us. Turn around.

From I-95 Richmond

Take I-64 West through Richmond and continue to Charlottesville. Take exit 118A which is Hwy 29 South. Stay on Hwy 29 for 28 miles to Lovingston. The Orchard House B&B is on the right 6.2 miles from the intersection of Route 6 West and just 0.4 mile past Route 718 "Mountain Cove Rd" on the right (Note sign to Mountain Cove Vineyard). When you get to 718 slow down below 30 as our driveway is on the right as you round the right curve on Route 29. If you come to a traffic light with McDonalds on the right you went about 0.8 mile past us. Turn around.

From I-81 Winchester, VA, West and Northwest

Take I-81 South to I-64 East at Staunton and continue to Exit 99 which is Route 250 (Afton, Waynesboro). At the end of the ramp turn right and go East on Route 250 for 3.4 miles to Route 151 South (The Rockfish Country Store is on the left). Turn right on 151 South and continue for 8.8 miles to Route 6 East. Turn left on Route 6 East and continue for 5.7 miles to Hwy 29. Turn right on Hwy 29 South (Garden Trade Shop is on your right). The Orchard House B&B is on the right 6.2 miles from the intersection of Route 6 West and just 0.4 mile past Route 718 "Mountain Cove Rd" on the right (Note sign to Mountain Cove Vineyard). When you get to 718 slow down below 30 as our driveway is on the right as you round the right curve on Route 29. If you come to a traffic light with McDonalds on the right you went about 0.8 mile past us. Turn around.

From Lynchburg, Hwy 460

Take US-460 E/US-29 N Turn Right onto US-29 North to Amherst/Charlottesville (This is the new 29 bypass around Lynchburg). In Amherst you will merge onto US-29 North to Lovingston/Charlottesville. Continue on Hwy 29 North for 16 miles to Lovingston. The Orchard House B&B is on the left side of the highway. Our Driveway is the 3RD left crossover after the traffic light where the McDonalds is on the left. It is only 0.8 mile from the light. Slow down and be careful as there is not a deacceleration lane. Cross the southbound lane directly into the Orchard House B&B driveway. If you pass St. Mary's Catholic Church, you went too far.

From I-81 Bristol, VA., South and Southwest

Take I-81 North toward Roanoke, Virginia. Take Exit 150A and merge onto US-11S (as you come off I81 get over one lane to the left after you merge and go thought the light). About 5 miles Turn Left onto US-460 E - Blue Ridge Blvd. Drive about 21 miles and stay to the right onto US-460 E toward Lynchburg. Continue on US-460/US 29 past Lynchburg toward Appomattox, Amherst, Charlottesville. Turn Right onto US-29 North to Amherst/Charlottesville (This is the 29 bypass around Lynchburg). In Amherst you will merge onto US-29 North to Lovingston/Charlottesville (you most likely will not even know this). Continue on Hwy 29 North for 16 miles to Lovingston. The Orchard House B&B is on the left side of the highway. Our Driveway is the 3RD left crossover after the traffic light where the McDonalds is on the left. It is only 0.8 mile from the light. Slow down and be careful as there is not a deceleration lane. Cross the southbound lane directly into the Orchard House B&B driveway. If you pass St. Mary's Catholic Church, you went too far. The inn is up on the hill past the red barn.